Slices of wood can filter bacteria and microplastics from water

Douglas Fir Wood: A Natural Water Filter

Slices of wood have been found to possess remarkable water-filtering abilities, capable of removing bacteria and microplastics with over 99 per cent efficiency. This discovery holds great promise as a cost-effective solution to combat water-borne illnesses and ensure access to clean water for communities worldwide.

While previous studies have explored complex methods involving chemical treatments to create wooden filters, researchers Antoni Sánchez-Ferrer and Jenifer Guerrero Parra from the Technical University of Munich, Germany, advocate for a simpler approach. They believe that intricate processes would not be practical in low-income regions where water-related diseases claim hundreds of thousands of lives annually.